Contact

Get Financial News & Updates Delivered to Your Inbox

Earnings for All Seasons

While nature offers four seasons, Wall Street offers only one—four times a year. It’s called “earnings season,” and it can move the markets. So what is earnings season and why is it important?

Earnings season is the month of the year that follows each calendar quarter-end month (January, April, July, and October). It is the time during which many public companies release quarterly earnings reports. Some public companies report earnings at other times during the year, but many are on the calendar year that ends December 31.

Reported Earnings

To understand the importance of earnings, we need to remember that the value of a company can be tied to the amount of money it earns. Some companies don’t have earnings, and they are valued based on their potential, rather than their current earnings.¹

Wall Street analysts maintain a close pulse on a company’s quarterly report to help estimate future earnings. For example, these estimates may guide investors in determining an appropriate price for a company’s stock.² Remember, a company is not permitted to discuss interim earnings with select individuals; earnings reports must be disseminated publicly to level the playing field for all investors.

An Inside Look

When an earnings report is released, it tells the market two things.

First, it offers an insight into how the company is performing and what its prospects may look like over the near term.²

And second, the report can serve as a bellwether for similar companies that still have not reported. For instance, if the earnings of a leading retailer are strong, it may offer an insight into the earnings of other retailers, as well as other companies that similarly benefit from higher consumer spending.

What Time?

Earnings reports are generally released when the market is closed in order to provide market participants adequate time to digest the results. Earnings reports may move markets. If earnings diverge from the expectations of professional investors and traders, then price swings—up or down—may be significant. Such a divergence is referred to as an “earnings surprise.”

If you are a “buy-and-hold” investor and feel confident in a company’s long-term prospects, earnings season may mean little to you, since short-term results may not impact your long-term outlook. However, earnings reports can be meaningful if an earnings shortfall reflects a structural problem with a business or represents the continuation of a downward trend in earnings.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Keep in mind that the return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

This is a hypothetical example used for illustrative purposes only. It is not representative of any specific investment or combination of investments.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2019 FMG Suite.

Check the background of your financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information.
The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals
for specific information regarding your individual situation. Some of this material was developed and produced by
FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named
representative, broker - dealer, state - or SEC - registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and
material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or
sale of any security.

Copyright 2019 FMG Suite.

The material provided in this site is for information purposes only and should not be used or construed as an indicator of future performance, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor recommend any security, nor shall any security be offered or sold to any person, in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, purchase, or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. A broker-dealer, broker-dealer agent ("BD agent"), Registered Investment Adviser, or Registered Investment Adviser agent ("RIA agent") may only transact in a particular state after licensure or satisfying qualification requirements of that state, or only if they are excluded or exempted from the state's broker-dealer, BD agent or RIA agent requirements, as the case may be.

Follow-up, individualized responses to consumers in a particular state by the broker-dealer, BD agent, Registered Investment Adviser, or RIA agent that involve either the effecting or attempting to effect transactions in securities or the rendering of investment advice for compensation, as the case may be, shall not be made without first complying with the state's broker-dealer, BD agent, Registered Investment Adviser, or RIA agent requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion. For information concerning the licensure status or disciplinary history of a broker-dealer, BD agent, Registered Investment Adviser, or RIA agent, a consumer should contact his or her state securities law administrator

Securities are offered through Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation (”MACC”) a registered Broker Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Financial advice is offered through Mid Atlantic Financial Management, Inc. dba LMK Advisors (”MAFM/LMKA"), a SEC registered Investment Adviser. LMK Wealth Management is not a registered entity or a subsidiary or control affiliate of MACC or MAFM/LMKA.